Grand Erie Public Health (GEPH) has suspended 461 students across Brantford-Brant and Haldimand-Norfolk for failing to comply with Ontario’s Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA). The enforcement follows months of outreach and comes amid heightened concern over a measles outbreak in Southwestern Ontario.
As of Tuesday, 291 students in Brantford-Brant from birth cohorts 2008, 2013, and 2017, and 170 students in Haldimand-Norfolk from cohorts 2008, 2016, and 2017, have been suspended from school for incomplete or unreported immunization records.
“Immunizations are one of the most effective ways to protect our children and community from serious diseases,” said Dr. Adelle Chang On, Acting Medical Officer of Health at Grand Erie Public Health.
“Given the ongoing measles outbreak in Southwestern Ontario, the Immunization of School Pupils Act is even more important now to safeguard the health and well-being of our students. Let’s work together to keep our schools safe and healthy.”
Under ISPA, students are required to be immunized against designated vaccine-preventable diseases or have a valid exemption on file. In January and February, GEPH issued 2,813 suspension orders.
Following widespread outreach, communication efforts, and immunization clinics, 84 per cent of those orders have been rescinded. The remaining 16 per cent of students who did not update their records or receive necessary vaccines were suspended today.
To support affected families, GEPH is offering multiple immunization clinics:
In Brantford-Brant:
Lynden Park Mall (Entrance #3), 84 Lynden Rd., Brantford
Tuesday, March 25 & Wednesday, March 26: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Thursday, March 27 & Friday, March 28: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Parents can walk in with their child or book an appointment at 519-753-4937 ext. 451.
In Haldimand-Norfolk:
GEPH Simcoe Office, 185 Robinson St., Simcoe
Friday, March 28: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Appointments available by request from Tuesday, March 25 to Friday, March 28
To book, call 519-426-6170 ext. 3214 or email vpdhn@geph.ca.
Grand Erie Public Health encourages families to submit updated immunization records online at www.bchu.org/immunization and www.hnhu.org/immunization_reporting, and to visit www.bchu.org/ispa or www.hnhu.org/ispa for more information.
GEPH, formed in January 2025 through the merger of the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit and Brant County Health Unit, continues to lead efforts to protect public health across the County of Brant, City of Brantford, Haldimand County, and Norfolk County.
